The Hidden | ✅

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The cries of the men died out as we ran further into the woods and soon we saw lights. Actual city lights. We skidded to a halt at the tree-line and I gasped as I saw the city twinkling before us.

Alex let go of my hand and pointed a finger at me while he looked at Victor. "You take her and you run. I don't want you two to stop running until you find a safe place to stay. And once you find that place, remain there. Don't go to any occupied houses. No hotels, no twenty four hour homeless people shelters, no nothing. Something abandoned No one is to be trusted except for you two. Stay together, alright?"

Victor nodded and I blinked. "Wait, what?"

Alex looked at me and I could see him at a loss for words. Something was swimming in his eyes that I couldn't quite place. Fear? Blame? Sadness? A mixture of the three?

"I'm going back for Evanora." He said simply.

"I'm going with you." I said in a heartbeat.

"No. No, I can't risk one of you two getting caught too. I'm going alone." He said.

"Why?!" I demanded. "Why are you shoving us to the side like we're some sort of glass dolls!?"

"Because Victor is hurt and you're powers aren't exactly ready to be called upon at the moment." Alex stated forcefully.

I opened my mouth to respond but I couldn't think of any excuse, so I sighed.

"Circe, I CAN'T risk losing you, Vic, and Evie all in one night, okay? That's going be just like..." He trailed off for a moment before he shook his head. "I don't want to go through that again. I can't go through that again, okay?"

I nodded my head silently and Alex tilted my head upwards and he gazed deep into my eyes, a soft fondness etched into every line of his face. I memorized his features. The infinite greenness of his eyes that were sprinkled with gold, the light dust of freckles on the bridge of his nose, the small, pale scar on his chin.

It was like English class all over again.

"Promise me that you'll stay out of trouble until I can get to you guys again?" He asked softly.

A tear slid down my cheek as I nodded and choked out a broken, "Yes." He pulled me close and enveloped me in a hug. I breathed in the smell of him and clutched onto his hoodie like I was going to lose him.

And I just might.

He stood up and turned to leave. All that was racing through my mind was the thought of never seeing him again. The thought of never hearing his laugh. The thought of never seeing his smile. The thought of never feeling his embrace.

"Alex!" I called out as I rushed over to his retreating form.

He turned around with a questioning look on his face and I didn't even give him time to speak before I grabbed the hood of his hoodie and smashed my lips onto his.

He was stiff for a moment before he relaxed and wrapped his arms around me tenderly, and kissed me back. Our lips moved in sync in a beautiful dance that I couldn't describe. That second kiss was nothing like the first time I kissed him at that party. This was slower, softer, less rushed and more heartfelt.

I let loose all of my sadness and worry and anxiety as he did his. My fingers tangled themselves in his soft raven black hair, and he let his hands travel up to my face and he caressed my cheek with his calloused thumb.

When we finally broke apart, he rested his forehead on mine. "That was...much better that the experience at the party." He chuckled breathily.

"Yeah." I smiled. He pulled away and stared at me for a moment with a soft look before he looked at Victor. "Stay safe." He said as he glanced back at me. "Both of you."

And before I had time to respond, he ran off into the darkness. I sighed as I watched his lean form disappear.

My pulse was still racing from the kiss and it was taking every single bit of will power in my system to keep from dashing after him. I promised him that I wouldn't.

I hoped...no...I prayed that he and Evanora would stay safe. That they would come back to me. To us.

I willed myself to turn around and Victor grabbed my hand softly. "They're going to be fine, Circe." He said. "Alex is a fighter by nature and, yeah, it does get him in trouble, but sometimes, it can get him out of trouble too."

I looked up at Victor and gave him a soft smile. Though my face showed that a confident being, deep inside, I was afraid. "I know. Let's go Vic."